Heart of Fire by Rebecca Ruger

Meggie Hope thinks herself quite clever, though she’s never once stepped foot outside her home, Muirfield Hall. She is, in fact, no match for the intoxicating charms of Gabriel Jamison, her own betrothed.

She cannot ever wed him, of course. Aside from being clever, she is also afflicted with a curse that says that any man who seeks her hand will meet death before he weds her, unless there is love. When suitors begin falling prey to the curse, and Meg’s father won’t listen to reason and betroths her yet again, this time to Gabriel Jamison, she runs away rather than be held responsible for another’s demise. When Gabriel finds her, she pretends to be someone else, and he gallantly insists on returning her to her family. And her heart aches for how perfect and kind her betrothed actually is. But she cannot reveal her true identity, for Gabriel has confessed that he doesn’t believe in love and Meggie understands that he cannot be the one to break the spell. Having met him and kissed him, Meggie knows she cannot be the reason he dies.

Gabriel had no intention of ever marrying again until he decided he truly craved sons and daughters. He thinks a supposedly cursed lass should prove perfectly biddable and give him the children he desires without causing an upset to his life, without expecting any emotion from him. The lass might only be happy that anyone is still brave enough to challenge the absurd curse and take her to wife.

He hadn’t planned on Meggie Hope though, hadn’t anticipated that she would flee rather than wed him or that his heart would come to life in her presence. He knew she was lying about her identity from the start, knew within minutes of meeting her that it was going to take more than a ridiculous curse to keep him from her. First, he’ll have to convince her that the curse isn’t real. And then he’ll prove to her that he is only in danger if she leaves him